SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Report for July 2022

MARA MOBILE

JULY 2022

Introduction

11 Cases in July 6 Poaching Cases 8 Elephant Cases

July Report by Dr. Ndambiri Ephantus

July has been the driest month this year. Grasslands and seasonal streams have been at the verge of drying up while permanent rivers have drastically reduced in size. Strong winds and cold weather have dominated this month with light drizzling over the last three days.

An escalation of human wildlife conflict has also been witnessed as wild animals have retreated from dispersal areas and into Reserves and Conservancies Many cases were attended to by the Mara Veterinary Unit which could have been linked to human wildlife conflict or poaching, and 8 of them involved elephants. A sad casualty of this conflict was one of the members of the famous coalition of cheetahs in the Maasai Mara National Reserve known as ‘Tano Bora’ alias ‘The 5 musketeers’

Acknowledgement

Appreciated earnestly is the immense funding offered to the Unit through Sheldrick Wildlife Trust by Elizabeth Scarlet. Other friends of conservation including local communities, Conservancies and NGOs working within the ecosystem cannot be forgotten for assisting with timely identification, reporting, monitoring and facilitating the execution of veterinary interventions. May we continue in the same spirit.

Case Details

Date Species Area Found

08th July 22

09th July 22

10th July 22

Elephant Naibosho Conservancy Arrow

Elephant Naibosho Conservancy HWC

Reason for Intervention

An abscess on the left side of the abdomen most likely caused by an arrow

Outcome

Treated successfully

Multiple injuries as well as lameness due to an injury above the right fore mid toe Treated successfully

Zebra Mara Triangle Arrow Arrow lodged into its back Treated successfully

10th July 22 Zebra Mara Triangle Natural causes Had a bleeding wound, possibly caused by a predator such as a crocodile Treated successfully

11th July 22

11th July 22

11th July 22

27th July 22

27th July 22

28th July 22

28th July 22

Elephant Olare Orok Conservancy Arrow

Large swelling was seen on its left side around the stomach area Treated successfully

Elephant Olare Orok Conservancy HWC Had 5 pus filled arrow wounds most likely due to increased conflict in the area Treated successfully

Elephant Olare Orok Conservancy Arrow

Elephant Kishermuruak HWC

Elephant Kishermuruak Spear

Cheetah Masai Mara NR HWC

An arrowhead was seen embedded into its right flank Treated successfully

Exhibited lameness and was reported to have charged at vehicles Treated successfully

Pus seen oozing from its left rump determined to be from a spear Treated successfully

A member of a famous coalition of 5 cheetahs found dead due to conflict Task successful

Elephant Masai Mara NR Arrow Lameness due to puncture wounds on the right gluteal muscle and right forelimb Treated successfully

Mara

Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations

July 2022

Elephant Arrow Naibosho Conservancy

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was approached by vehicle and darted with 20 mgs Etorphine. It immediately bolted towards a nearby forested area, but it was herded into a clearing before the anaesthesia could take effect. Upon examination, an abscess was observed around the left external oblique abdominal muscle region. The abscess was regressing, and the wound was healing. A sharp object, most likely an arrow, was believed to have caused the wound possibly inflicted when the animal visited areas near human settlements/ farms The abscess was incised and cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. 12000 mgs Oxytetracycline and 60 mgs Dexamethasone was then administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 60 mgs Diprenorphine.

Prognosis

The elephant has a good prognosis.

The Mobile Vet Unit was informed of the wounded elephant by the Naboisho Conservancy monitoring team

Elephant

Human – Wildlife Conflict

Naibosho Conservancy

The lame elephant bull was spotted by Naibosho Conservancy Rangers Its lameness was attributed to an injury above the right fore mid toe. However, 3 additional pus oozing injuries were observed on the same animal. These were on the right knee, the right mid flank area and the left fore metacarpus. All these injuries were thought to have been inflicted by arrows that are widely used as human elephant conflict escalates

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The bull was darted with 20mgs Etorphine from a vehicle. It assumed left lateral recumbency 9 minutes post darting. All injuries were probed for any foreign objects, none was found. All wounds were disinfected thoroughly with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. All dead tissue was debrided, and the resulting cavities packed with green clay paste. Tetracycline granules were inserted into wound openings and Tetracycline wound spray applied topically. Additionally, 20,000mgs Tetracycline Hydrochloride, Amoxicillin, 50mls Multivitamin and 60mgs Dexamethasone was injected intramuscularly. Reversal of anaesthesia was achieved with 100mgs Naltrexone and 36mgs Diprenorphine injected via the ear vein.

Prognosis

The elephant has a fair prognosis. Review is planned after seven days if the candidate is located.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

After a short search, the foal was found amidst a grazing herd of zebra. It was darted on the left rump with 2mgs Etorphine and 20mgs Azaperone The arrow lodged into its back had dropped off leaving a septic penetrating wound leading into the thoracic spine. The wound was foul smelling, and the surrounding fur was matted with pus. The entry wound was examined and probed for an arrowhead that was found and successfully extracted Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine were used to clean the wound and 1,000mgs Amoxicillin infused into the wound cavity. 2,000mgs Amoxicillin, 16mgs Dexamethasone and 10ml Multivitamin was injected intramuscularly Wet green clay was then packed into the wound followed by topical spraying with Tetracycline.

Revival and Prognosis

The foal was revived before treatment was completed since apnea was noted, it was manually restrained for the rest of the treatment The foal re joined its herd post treatment and has a fair prognosis

Zebra Arrow

Mara Triangle – Kichwa Airstrip

A zebra foal with an arrow lodged into its back was seen by the Mara Triangle Security team

Zebra Natural Causes

Governor’s Camp – Mara Triangle

A zebra stallion with blood oozing from its posterior region was spotted while searching for the foal cited under Case 3.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The zebra was darted on the right rump with 5mgs Etorphine and 70mgs Azaperone. It was observed to have an open mid tail fracture that was bleeding profusely. The injury was believed to have been caused by a predator bite. One bleeder was seen and clamped. A torniquet was placed above the fracture to control any bleeding after tail amputation. The tail was amputated, and bleeding at the end of the stump was controlled. The stump wound was then cleaned with Iodine, coated with Tetracycline wound granules and topically sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray. 6,000mgs Tetracycline Hydrochloride, 20mgs Dexamethasone and 15ml Catosal were parenterally administered at different muscle sites. The dart wound was sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray and eyes oiled with Cloxacillin ointment. The zebra was revived with 18mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride injected into jugular vein.

Prognosis

The stump wound is expected to heal completely, the zebra has a good prognosis

Elephant Arrow Olare Orok Conservancy

The Mara Elephant Project Monitoring Team reported an elephant bull with a large swelling on its left side around the stomach area.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted on its right thigh with 20mgs Etorphine after it was separated from a family of 10 elephants. Once it was sedated, an incision was made at the site of the swelling to facilitate drainage, disinfection and probing for foreign bodies. Copious amounts of pus were pressed out of the swelling, but no foreign bodies were found. The septic pouch was thought to have been caused by an arrowhead that had fallen off more than 2 months earlier. The cavity was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then packed with wet green clay Tetracycline wound spray was then sprayed onto the wound and the dart site. 10, 000mgs Tetracycline hydrochloride and 40mgs Dexamethasone were injected into different muscle sites then the elephant was revived with 80mgs Naltrexone and 36mgs Diprenorphine.

Prognosis

The Rangers were asked to monitor the elephant and report back incase the swelling fails to subside in a week. The elephant has a good prognosis.

Elephant Human Wildlife Conflict

Olare Orok Conservancy

A female elephant within the herd of 10 elephants accompanying the male cited under case 5 was seen with 5 pus filled wounds.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was found wallowing in a muddy pool away from the rest of the family. She was approached by vehicle and darted with 18mgs Etorphine on her right rump. Pus filled swellings were observed on her right and left inguinal lymph nodes, two more swellings were seen in her mid inguinal area and an additional swelling around her mid left scapula. All were devoid of foreign objects, the earliest injury was assumed to be about a month old while the latest appeared to be a week old. These injuries were thought to have been inflicted by arrows during crop raiding incidents outside the Conservancy. The swellings were cleaned with water and an incision made to facilitate complete drainage after disinfection with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. Green clay was liberally infiltrated into each cavity that was then topically sprayed with Tetracycline. 20,000mgs Tetracycline, 30mgs Dexamethasone and 15ml Cynocobalamin were also administered parenterally. Reversal of anaesthesia was achieved with 80 mgs Naltrexone and 24 mgs Diprenorphine.

Prognosis

The elephant walked away to re join her family post reversal. She has a good prognosis.

Elephant Arrow Olare Orok Conservancy

An elephant bull with an arrowhead embedded into its left flank was seen by the Conservancy Security Team after the Mara Vet Unit attended to case 5 and 6.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 20mgs Etorphine on the right thigh, the anaesthesia took effect after 10 minutes as he lay on his right side at the edge of an open acacia woodland. The arrowhead was pulled out carefully with a pair of pliers then an incision was made at the entry site to facilitate cleaning of the penetrating wound. The wound was then cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide to remove necrotic tissue, infused with Iodine, and packed with green clay. 10,000mgs Tetracycline and 40mgs Dexamethasone were administered parenterally and the dart wound sprayed with Tetracycline.

Prognosis

Reversal of anaesthesia was achieved with 40mgs Naltrexone and 36mgs Diprenorphine injected via the ear vein. The elephant was up in 2 minutes, it remained calm and went about browsing thereafter. The elephant has a good prognosis since the injury was still fresh and the wound is expected to heal completely.

Elephant Human Wildlife Conflict

The Mara Elephant Project reported an elephant bull exhibiting lameness. The elephant was also reported to have charged at vehicles in the area.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was found browsing among a herd of approximately 40 elephants within an area with dense bush. They were herded to a clearing where the lame bull elephant was darted with 20mg Etorphine from a vehicle. Once the anaesthesia had taken effect, examination revealed that an arrowhead was embedded in the carpal joint of the left forelimb. Pain from the injury was most probably causing aggression It was believed that that the elephant was shot with the arrow while traversing an area with human settlement. The arrowhead was carefully extracted then the wound was cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected with Iodine. 20,000mg Oxytetracycline and 60mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly, an additional 20mgs Dexamethasone was administered intravenously.

Prognosis

The elephant has a good prognosis.

Kishermuruak

Elephant Spear

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was among the herd of approximately 40 elephants browsing nearby. He was separated from the herd and darted with 18mgs Etorphine from a vehicle. Anaesthesia took effect in 10 minutes. An additional 5 mgs Etorphine was later injected via the ear vein after the elephant woke up during treatment.

A deep penetrating wound, most likely inflicted by a spear, was found on the animal’s left rump. The elephant also had a laceration near its anal region that was attributed to a fight with another bull. The wounds were flushed with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then filled with green clay. 16,000mg Oxytetracycline and 40mg Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly.

Prognosis

Anaesthesia was reversed in 2 minutes with 80mgs Naltrexone and 24mgs Diprenorphine administered intravenously. The elephant has a good prognosis.

Kishermuruak

Soon after attending to case 8, another elephant bull with pus oozing from its left rump was seen

Cheetah

2022

Human – Wildlife Conflict

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The Deputy Park Warden reported that one of the members of the famous coalition of 5 cheetahs in the Maasai Mara known as ‘Tano Bora’ alias ‘Five Musketeers’ had been found dead on 28th July 2022.

Post-mortem Examination

The coalition had previously lost 2 of its members. Therefore, the Mara Vet Unit conducted an autopsy to establish the cause of death.

Important autopsy findings:

▪

The male cheetah carcass was found on right lateral recumbency near a thicket

▪

The eyes were sunken and mucous membranes were pale

▪ Body score was 3 out of possible best of 5.

▪

Fur in the area just posterior to the right elbow and extending to sternum was matted with blood

▪

The carcass was cold and stiff

▪

The carcass was flipped to left lateral recumbency. A pale organ was protruding from a puncture wound on the centre of thoracic cavity/ chest cage. The blood on the matted fur originated from that puncture wound

▪

Trophies including skin, head and all craws were retrieved and handed over to the Deputy Park Warden for safe custody and onward transmission to KWS HQs

▪

There was a puncture wound, about 5 cm longitudinally, from the outer right chest cage through to the left chest cage. Corresponding to the internal puncture on the left side was a congested patch about 10 cm in diameter on the outer chest muscles covering the left ribs. Both wounds on the left and right chest cage were between 7th rib anteriorly and 6th rib posteriorly

▪

The pale organ protruding from the thoracic cavity were lungs. Both right and left ventral robes had been punctured through

▪

Approximately ¾ liters of clotted blood was recovered from within the chest cavity. All other chest organs were intact

▪

Importantly, within the stomach cavity, the entire gut was empty. It was virtually filled with yellowish froth and mucus on the mucus membranes. A tape worm was recovered from the small intestine and preserved in ethanol for identification

Cause of Death

Hypovolemic Shock secondary to internal bleeding

Comments

The puncture wounds observed were inflicted by a spear as indicated by the edges of the wounds. The spear was thrust perpendicular to the thoracic cage as the location of the puncture wounds showed on both side of the chest.

The scene of injury was not far away from where the cat died since the injury caused death almost immediately and there were no signs of a struggle at the death scene. This is further proven by a clear airway indicating that the animal did not struggle for breath before it succummed.

Recommendations

▪

The perpetrators of this heinous act should be sought and charged for the law to take its course

▪ Preventive measures should be formulated and implemented to prevent further losses

Elephant Arrow

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Immediately after completing the autopsy cited under case 10, the Mara Vet Unit was informed by the Park Warden of a lame elephant within the balloon area of the Reserve.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted with 20mgs Etorphine on the right rump. An injury was noted on the animal’s right gluteal muscles along with lameness of the right forelimb due to a puncture wound at the medial metacarpus. An additional wound was observed on the animal’s right forelimb when the elephant was turned to its left side by using straps and a vehicle No foreign objects were found in the first two wounds which were belived to have been inflicted by arrows. The third wound was superficial. All wounds were disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and flushed with Iodine then packed with green clay. Tetracycline wound spray was sprayed topically to deter flies. Systemically, the elephant was covered with 20,000mgs Tetracycline, 50mls Multivitamin and 30mgs Dexamethasone. An additional 20mgs Dexamethasone was injected into the ear vein for faster pain relief to facilitate ambultation.

Prognosis

The elephant walked away after the anaesthetic was reversed and has a good prognosis.